Carson Beck excited to see Brock Vandagriff shine at Kentucky

Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff took similar paths on their journey through college football. Their point of convergence created a lasting bond, even though it has since diverged.

Beck was a five-star, top-five talent in the 2020 class from Jacksonville. Vandagriff was a little closer to Athens when he developed into a five-star, top-25 talent. Each player was forced to wait their turn on the sidelines of National Championship teams, creating a lasting friendship.

“Me and him built a great relationship, we still do have a great relationship to this day. We talk almost every single day to this point,” Beck told KSR at SEC Media Days in Dallas.

“He’s a great quarterback, he’s a great athlete, but an even better person. I think that aspect as a quarterback — being a good person, being able to connect with your teammates, being a good leader — I’m super excited to see what he’s able to do at Kentucky and looking forward to him having success.”

The friends will face each other on the field this fall. Georgia travels to Kroger Field in week three.

“I think it’ll be super cool. Obviously, we’re great friends but when you get onto the field, you want to see him succeed, but not (too much). If you ask him the same thing, he’ll probably say the same thing. You know, you want to see him succeed, but obviously you want to come out of there with the win.”

What Kentucky Fans can Expect from Vandagriff

Few people have seen Vandagriff throw the football more than Beck. They shared a quarterback room for two seasons while backing up Stetson Bennett, then competed for the starting spot in the spring of 2023. Vandagriff has all of the physical attributes to succeed in the SEC.

“He’s a very athletic quarterback. He’s gonna be able to make plays with his legs. Very cerebral, smart; he’s gonna get the ball where it’s supposed to. But I think the thing that’s gonna stand out is being able to make a second play and also just being able to lead his teammates,” said Beck.

The second play is what happens when the first read isn’t there. If the play falls apart, Vandagriff can still make one. The key to Brock’s progression is learning how to do that in an SEC atmosphere against the best teams in all of college football.

The Key to the Kentucky Quarterback’s Development

Beck spent three years learning the odds and ends of the Georgia offense. He did not become the quarterback he is today until he stubbed his toe on the road at Auburn.

The Dawgs started slow in the rivalry game. Beck threw an early interception, opening the door for Auburn to take a 10-0 first quarter lead. They clawed back, then opened the second half with a turnover on the first play from scrimmage. Instead of crumbling under pressure, Beck was at his best, capping off the comeback win with a 40-yard touchdown pass in the final three minutes of the game.

“It was a big growing moment for me as a big stepping stone to who I was going to become as a quarterback as the season went on because we had to face adversity in that game.”

Beck added, “That game was a turning point in my season for sure. It kind of elevated me and gave me confidence.”

The following week he was damn near perfect against Kentucky, drawing attention from NFL scouts who now believe he will be a first round draft pick. For Vandagriff to unlock his potential, he will have to learn how to thrive under similar adversity in Lexington. His old team will be happy to provide just that in week three.

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